Marrinan Blogtag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2012-09-06:/marr0110/3101newsfall2012//165502012-12-10T04:21:46ZMovable Type Enterprise 4.31-enAnalysis: Data and Records - CNN Program for violence in Chicagotag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2012:/marr0110/3101newsfall2012//16550.3803062012-12-10T04:19:25Z2012-12-10T04:21:46ZIn CNN's story "Questions surround $55 million program to cut violence in Chicago," the three special investigator reporters, Scott Zamost, Drew Griffin and Elizabeth Nunez had to utilize multiple forms of data to form a full story. Research was conducted...marr0110
In CNN's story "Questions surround $55 million program to cut violence in Chicago," the three special investigator reporters, Scott Zamost, Drew Griffin and Elizabeth Nunez had to utilize multiple forms of data to form a full story.

Research was conducted on Pat Quinn's campaign for governor so the story could have a fuller view of the plan's origin. Statements were taken from the minutes of the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority to increase the stories creditability.

Some of the data that was necessary for the story was information about the effectiveness of the program to reduce the Chicago murder rate. The reporters also referred to a series of pay rates that would need to be both discovered and verified. The reporters attended open meetings in Chicago to understand what recommendations were made before the plan was implemented.

Like we discussed in class, reporters can request information from letters sent that pertain to the story. These CNN reporters obtained information from letter from the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority.

The story incorporated quite a few numbers that helped the reader understand the story. "Two years after the program was implemented, there have been 476 murders in the city, a nearly 20 percent," CNN reported. These figures would need to be checked over multiple times to ensure accuracy.

Researchers at the University of Illinois are rechecking some of the numbers about the costs and success of the program since the numbers were self-reported. This was an important point in the story because it is necessary to look at where the source of the information is coming from to determine how trustworthy it is. The people reporting it may have a larger stake in making the numbers look favorable for them.

The accompanying multimedia was a video featuring some components of the news story from Anderson Cooper 360. Although it is not an interactive graphic, it is a suitable compliment for the story. It tells the story in a different format to reach a broader audience. The story was so fully reported and researched and the video clips reflected the depth of the story well. I do think an interactive graphic that compared murder rates across the country and/or across the years in Chicago would have been engaging.

To create this a number of tools would have had to have been utilized. The video required skills with video cameras and video editing software. This also would include being able to overlay text and write explanatory captions that were short and succinct but still informative. To gather all the data described above the reporters needed to be able to successfully navigate websites containing meeting minuets and interpret and compare data with numbers.

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Police pull body from Mississippi Rivertag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2012:/marr0110/3101newsfall2012//16550.3801962012-12-09T02:15:41Z2012-12-09T02:17:57ZA homeless man died on Saturday after slipping into the Mississippi River, the Pioneer Press reported. The man's friend alerted the police and firefighters after he saw him slip into the river, the Pioneer Press reported. The incident occurred south...marr0110
A homeless man died on Saturday after slipping into the Mississippi River, the Pioneer Press reported.

The man's friend alerted the police and firefighters after he saw him slip into the river, the Pioneer Press reported.

The homeless man was intoxicated when he went into the river, the Star Tribune reported, but there is no clear indication of why he went in.

One of the firefighters recovered the body from about 15 feet away from shore, but the man had already drowned, according to CBS News.

Sheriff's spokesman Lisa Kiava said there is no indication of foul play, but "we investigate these things," CBS News reported.

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Florida to host python-hunting contesttag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2012:/marr0110/3101newsfall2012//16550.3801322012-12-07T22:17:21Z2012-12-07T22:19:27ZThe Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has announced a Burmese python hunting contest to keep the python population under control, CNN reported. Wildlife officials have organized the contest in hopes that the public would see the threat this nonnative...marr0110
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has announced a Burmese python hunting contest to keep the python population under control, CNN reported.

Wildlife officials have organized the contest in hopes that the public would see the threat this nonnative species has on the Ecosystem, Fox News reported. Data will also be collected to further investigate the python population.

"We are hoping to gauge from the python challenge the effectiveness of using an incentive-based model as a tool to address this problem," Florida Wildlife Commission spokeswoman Carli Segelson told CNN.

A prize of $1,500 will be awarded to the person who kills the most pythons, CNN reported. Another $1,000 will go to the person who kills the longest.

The Burmese pythons have destroyed almost 99 percent of the fox, bobcat, and possum populations near the Everglades, according to Slate. They are native to Southeast Asia, but have been brought over to the United States and sold as pets.

According to Fox News, it is currently against federal law to import or sell Burmese pythons.

The challenge begins Jan. 12 for all Floridian permit holders, Fox News reported. Participants will have to pay a $25 entry fee and take an online training course before participating, Slate reported.

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Oldest person in the world diestag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2012:/marr0110/3101newsfall2012//16550.3792442012-12-05T17:22:16Z2012-12-05T17:23:38ZThe oldest living person in the world, Besse Cooper, died on Tuesday in a nursing home in George, Rueters reported. Cooped, 116, died peacefully in her sleep shortly after getting her hair done, CNN reported. "She looked real good when...marr0110
The oldest living person in the world, Besse Cooper, died on Tuesday in a nursing home in George, Rueters reported.

Cooped, 116, died peacefully in her sleep shortly after getting her hair done, CNN reported.

"She looked real good when she passed away," her son Sidney Cooper told Rueters.

She was in excellent health, apart from deteriorating eyesight, according to CNN. Cooper lived through three centuries.

Cooper was strong and determined woman and had been a teacher until her first children were born in 1929, according to Rueters.

Cooper had been stripped of her title when Brazilian-born Maria Gomes Valentim was discovered to be 48 days older, reported Rueters. She was later given back the title after Gomes Valentim died in June 2011.

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Suspect in Cold Spring police officer death releasedtag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2012:/marr0110/3101newsfall2012//16550.3789442012-12-04T19:11:37Z2012-12-04T19:14:24ZRyan Larson, the man accused of killing Cold Spring-Richmond Police Officer Tom Decker last week, was released without charges on Tuesday, Fox News reported. Authorities released Larson, 34, after stating sufficient evidence had not been gathered to convict him, the...marr0110
Ryan Larson, the man accused of killing Cold Spring-Richmond Police Officer Tom Decker last week, was released without charges on Tuesday, Fox News reported.

Authorities released Larson, 34, after stating sufficient evidence had not been gathered to convict him, the Star Tribune reported.

"Our agencies have reviewed the investigative data collected thus far and must act within the time allotted by law, within the constraints of the law, and based upon the facts known at this time," said Stearns County Attorney Janelle Kendall.

Larson told the St. Cloud Times that the police have the wrong man. He said he was asleep at the time of the shooting.

"Basically, they have no evidence whatsoever that points in my direction," Larson told the St. Cloud Times in a phone interview.

Larson told the police he had met Decker a few times while working as a bartender, the Star Tribune reported.

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Kate Middleton and Prince William expecting first childtag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2012:/marr0110/3101newsfall2012//16550.3787102012-12-03T20:51:11Z2012-12-07T20:45:48ZKate Middleton's pregnancy was confirmed by St. James's Palace Monday morning, E! News reported. "Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby," E! News reported...marr0110
Kate Middleton's pregnancy was confirmed by St. James's Palace Monday morning, E! News reported.

"Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby," E! News reported the palace said.

Middleton was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in London after suffering from morning sickness, New York Daily News reported.

Middleton will remain hospitalized for a few more days "and will require a period of rest thereafter," New York Daily News reported the palace said.

Although an expected due date has not yet been announced, E! News reported that Middleton is still in the very early stages of pregnancy.

"The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry and members of both families are delighted with the news," the palace said.

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Cold Spring police officer killed in ambushtag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2012:/marr0110/3101newsfall2012//16550.3782082012-11-30T20:47:06Z2012-11-30T20:50:02ZA Cold Spring police officer was killed late Thursday after answering a call about a suicidal person, the Star Tribune reported. Tom Decker, 31, was shot to death in what authorities are calling an ambush killing, the Huffington Post reported....marr0110
A Cold Spring police officer was killed late Thursday after answering a call about a suicidal person, the Star Tribune reported.

Tom Decker, 31, was shot to death in what authorities are calling an ambush killing, the Huffington Post reported.

The shooter was identified as Ryan Michael Larson, 34, of Cold Spring, the Star Tribune reported.

Authorities received a call that Larson may be suicidal but were unable to get a response when they arrived at his apartment, the Huffington Post reported.

Decker and his partner returned to Larson's apartment one hour and 45 minutes later. Larson confronted the two officers upon their return and shot and killed Decker, the Star Tribune reported.

Decker had been wearing a protective vest, and authorities have not released where the bullets hit him, the Star Tribune reported.

Larson was the father of four children and had been on the police force for six years, according to the Huffington Post.

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Two tickets win record Powerball jackpottag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2012:/marr0110/3101newsfall2012//16550.3779172012-11-29T17:25:09Z2012-11-29T17:33:46ZTwo ticket holders won the largest Powerball jackpot ever on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported. The $587.5 million jackpot numbers matched a ticket sol in Missouri and a ticket from Kansas, the Associated Press reported. The Powerball numbers for the...marr0110
Two ticket holders won the largest Powerball jackpot ever on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.

The $587.5 million jackpot numbers matched a ticket sol in Missouri and a ticket from Kansas, the Associated Press reported.

The Powerball numbers for the second largest lottery prize in U.S. history are 5, 16, 22, 23, 29 with a Powerball of 6, according to the Associated Press.

It has not yet been determined if the winners are groups of people or individuals, the http://www.startribune.com/nation/181352241.html reported.

Powerball tickets were sold at a rate of 130,000 per minute, according to the Star Tribune. That rate is six times higher than one week ago.

The winners have not yet come forward, the Star Tribune reported, but they both have 180 days to claim their prizes.

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Taliban takes responsibility for attempted television anchor assassination tag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2012:/marr0110/3101newsfall2012//16550.3778242012-11-29T04:53:55Z2012-11-29T04:57:12ZThe Pakistani Taliban took responsibility on Tuesday for an attempt to assassinate a prominent television anchor, CNN reported. A bomb made up of one pound of explosives was found underneath the car of Hamid Mir, a senior anchor of GEO's...marr0110
The Pakistani Taliban took responsibility on Tuesday for an attempt to assassinate a prominent television anchor, CNN reported.

A bomb made up of one pound of explosives was found underneath the car of Hamid Mir, a senior anchor of GEO's prime time television program, the Washington Post reported.

"We will continue targeting journalists who propagate a secular agenda and side with the government," said Ihsanullah Ihsan, a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban.

The Pakistani Taliban targeted Mir after his coverage of a schoolgirl was shot by the militants, the Washington Post reported. The assassination attempt came a month after the group threatened Mir for this coverage.

The bomb was found by a police officer that is a part of Mir's security team. Mir had ran into a local market when the bomb was detected, CNN reported.

"We have a lot of respect for journalists, however all those who are spreading negative news against us and Islam will be targeted," Ihsan said.

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Confidential documents found among parade confetti tag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2012:/marr0110/3101newsfall2012//16550.3775342012-11-27T21:50:35Z2012-11-27T21:52:08ZShredded confidential police documents were discovered within the confetti thrown at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York, CNN reported. The confetti contained social security numbers, police detail assignments, and incident reports that were all visible on the strips...marr0110
Shredded confidential police documents were discovered within the confetti thrown at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York, CNN reported.

The confetti contained social security numbers, police detail assignments, and incident reports that were all visible on the strips that were thrown, Time reported. Some strips also contained information from presidential candidate Mitt Romney's campaign.

Saul Finkelstein, the eyewitness who alerted the police, said he found police documents in still Turing up on Monday morning, the Chicago Tribune reported.

"There were shredded papers all over the place, like snowball size, all over the ground," Finkelstein told CNN.

Most of the information could not have been pieced together to cause a major threat, Time reported. Parade attendees were still concerned about the breach in security.

Macy's responded to the incident saying it uses commercially manufactured confetti, not shredded up papers, Time reported.

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Little Falls man charged with Thanksgiving shootingtag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2012:/marr0110/3101newsfall2012//16550.3774142012-11-26T22:51:21Z2012-11-26T22:53:46ZA Little Falls man was charged on Monday for two teens that were shot and killed on Thanksgiving, Fox News reported. The cousins, Haile Kifer, 18, and Nicholas Brady, 17, were allegedly shot by Byron David Smith, 64, according to...marr0110
A Little Falls man was charged on Monday for two teens that were shot and killed on Thanksgiving, Fox News reported.

The cousins, Haile Kifer, 18, and Nicholas Brady, 17, were allegedly shot by Byron David Smith, 64, according to Fox News.

Smith was charged Monday with two counts of second-degree murder, according to the Associated Press.

The cousins were shot during an apparent Thanksgiving Day break-in, the Associated Press reported. Smith allegedly shot Kifer several times as she made her way into his basement. After she fell to the ground laughing, Smith said he shot her several more times in the chest.

Morrison County Sheriff Michel Wetzel told Fox News, Smith's actions exceed self-defense after the bodies were found on Friday.

Minnesota laws allow homeowners to defend themselves against intruders, the Associated Press reported. Smith said he believed the intruders may have had a weapon.

"The law doesn't permit you to execute somebody once a threat is gone," Wetzel said.

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Analysis: Diversity - Somali Voter Fraudtag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2012:/marr0110/3101newsfall2012//16550.3766352012-11-18T20:53:50Z2012-11-18T20:55:05ZThe Huffington Post posted an article about voter fraud really focused on Somali voters that I found very interesting. It lead be to the original story posted by Human Events about the situation. The article cited Human Events for information...marr0110
The Huffington Post posted an article about voter fraud really focused on Somali voters that I found very interesting. It lead be to the original story posted by Human Events about the situation.

The article cited Human Events for information about groups of Somalia voters who could not speak English arriving by the "van-load" at an Ohio polling place during the election and being subjected to voting with only democratic interpreters present. It was later discovered that there were republican interpreters present as well. The Human Events story criticized the right of non-English speaking people to vote.

"The logical follow-up question is whether a non-English speaking person is an American citizen," The article read.

I grew up in an area with quite a few Somali immigrants and Minnesota currently has the largest population of Somalis in North America. What really drew me to this cultural group are the stereotypes that this culture gets stuck with so often. Receiving driver licenses fraudulently is one of the most common stereotypes given to the Somali community. This Human Events story really perpetuated these stereotypes in this article. It cited almost all of its information from anonymous citizens at the polls who witnessed this activity. This really hinders the credibility of the reports, and as seen in the article, some of these reports ended up being incorrect. The claimed there were only democratic interpreters encouraging them to vote for Obama, but late found out that was not true.

The article continued to attempt to tear down the legitimacy of the Somali community's right to vote by citing information from Somali Community Association of Ohio's web site. According to Human Events, "over 45,000 Somalis live in Ohio. Only 40 percent have become citizens of the United States, and only 25 percent speak English well enough to get a job." First off, more than 45,000 Somalis live in Ohio, not over 45,000. Second, the information on the ability to speak English well is irrelevant to a citizenship status. It is a not a requirement to be able to speak English to be allowed to vote and the Huffington Post article mentioned only very basic English is needed to become a naturalized citizen. This really just was included to try and lesser the worth of the Somali vote.

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Teen denied confirmation for supporting gay marriagetag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2012:/marr0110/3101newsfall2012//16550.3764712012-11-16T20:35:50Z2012-11-16T20:36:40ZA Catholic teen from northwestern Minnesota was refused the sacrament of confirmation after posting a facebook picture against the marriage amendment, the Star Tribune reported. Lennon Cihak, 17, was allegedly denied the religious rite of passage by Rev. Gary LaMoine...marr0110
A Catholic teen from northwestern Minnesota was refused the sacrament of confirmation after posting a facebook picture against the marriage amendment, the Star Tribune reported.

Lennon Cihak, 17, was allegedly denied the religious rite of passage by Rev. Gary LaMoine of the Assumption Church in Barnesville, Minn. after seeing him online holding a sign in opposition of the marriage amendment, the Huffington Post reported. The amendment to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman was defeated on Nov. 6.

Shana Cihak, Lennon's mother, said she was shocked to hear about the decision and was told through a private meeting with the priest, the Huffington Post reported.
"I just thought it was wrong to single him out," his mother said.

Lennon said that though all of this, it hasn't affected his faith, the Forum reported.

"I don't want the church to be put down. I don't want the Catholic religion to be put down," he said. "It's just the way the priest has things running. He's so strict. He won't loosen up about things."

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Target headquarters declared clear after shots-fired reporttag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2012:/marr0110/3101newsfall2012//16550.3764632012-11-16T20:20:53Z2012-11-16T20:22:23ZPolice received a call that shots had been fired at Target Corporation's headquarters in downtown Minneapolis on Friday, the Star Tribune reported. Police did not find any evidence of shots being fired after sweeping the building, the Pioneer Press reported....marr0110
Police received a call that shots had been fired at Target Corporation's headquarters in downtown Minneapolis on Friday, the Star Tribune reported.

Police did not find any evidence of shots being fired after sweeping the building, the Pioneer Press reported.

A SWAT team and about a dozen squad cars were dispatched to 10th Street South and Nicollet Avenue after the call was received at around 11:30 a.m., the Pioneer Press reported. Police gave sounded the all-clear at about 1:30 p.m.

Some workers at the headquarters barricaded themselves into their offices once reports of the reported shots were received, the Star Tribune reported.

"We're all in a conference room. They had an announcement that there was a situation and we should go into a locked office," said Julia Brosz, a Target store planner who works in the downtown Retek Building.

Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau said workers may have mistaken noises in the duct work for shots, the Star Tribune reported.

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Obama calls criticism of Rice "outrageous"tag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2012:/marr0110/3101newsfall2012//16550.3761722012-11-14T23:28:32Z2012-11-14T23:41:11ZPresident Barack Obama called Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and John McCain comments about U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice "outrageous" at a press conference held on Wednesday, CNN reported. "If Senator McCain and Senator Graham and others want...marr0110
President Barack Obama called Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and John McCain comments about U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice "outrageous" at a press conference held on Wednesday, CNN reported.

"If Senator McCain and Senator Graham and others want to go after someone they should go after me," Obama said.

Both senators have said they would work to block Rice out of becoming Secretary of State because of her recent relationship with the events in Benghazi, Libya, the Washington Post reported.

Rice had suggested the attack was a spontaneous crime, but it was later discovered that it was planned, the Washington Post reported.

Obama began the press conference with notes of bipartisanship and compromise, but quickly changed tones when Rice was brought up, the Washington Post reported.

Graham responded to the president shortly after the conference, CNN reported.

"Mr. President, don't think for one minute I don't hold you ultimately responsible for Benghazi. I think you failed as commander-in-chief before, during, and after the attack," Graham said.